This was published 7 months ago

The irony of Theo Walcott touring Australia with the English Premier League trophy is that Australia, in some ways, is how it all began.

The year was 2003, and Walcott, now an Arsenal hero and former England representative, was glued to his television screen as the Socceroos played Jamaica in a friendly at Madejski Stadium in Reading in the United Kingdom.

Former Arsenal player Theo Walcott with the Premier League trophy. Audrey Richardson

With Jamaican heritage on his father’s side, Walcott was a supporter of the Carribean country – a loyalty that was superseded when he made his debut for England in 2006 – and the green, yellow and black flag was emblazoned on the back of his head with hairspray.

Walcott was already well on the path to professional football, but watching Australian winger Harry Kewell in that match inspired him to work even harder.

“What I remember from the match, well, there were so many bright colours with all the different shirts, Jamaica and…